‘Washed up’ Daniel Cormier begs Jon Jones to leave him alone, fight Tom Aspinall

UFC Hall of Famer and color commentator Daniel Cormier would like former rival Jon Jones to leave him alone.

Cormier’s UFC legacy is forever tied to “Bones.” The duo fought twice in 2015 and 2017, and Jones was victorious on both occasions … those his latter head kick knockout win was ultimately overturned after a failed drug test (much to Jones’ chagrin). After coming up short in that rivalry, “DC” actually found some of the best success of his career, moving up to capture Heavyweight gold and become a bonafide double champion.

All that was a long time ago, however. Cormier has been retired for five years now, though that didn’t stop Jones from bringing up his name recently. For some reason, Jones is talking about how he would’ve fared opposite “DC” as a Heavyweight … despite the fact that he had the opportunity back in 2019 and opted not to take it.

“I believe I beat Daniel Cormier at heavyweight worse than I beat him at light heavyweight,” Jones said in a recent interview with Geoffrey Woo (via MMA Junkie). “I feel like my speed has transferred over in a way that his hasn’t. I think I beat him up pretty worse at heavyweight. I kick harder. I even punch harder as a heavyweight, but I kick a lot harder. Ya’ll see what my kicks did to him in the (second) fight.”

All of this strikes Cormier, happily retired at age 46, as odd. He responded to Jones’ recent claims, advising the current Heavyweight champion to worry about Tom Aspinall, the man who is actually trying to challenge him.

“Talking about what you would have done to me seven years ago,” Cormier started. “Five years ago, when I retired? How about this, I’ve got a novel idea for you. I’m retired. I’m done. I’m 46. I’m washed up. I’m a broadcaster. I’m a commentator. I am a talking head.”

“How about this novel idea: fight the dude that’s actually wanting to fight! I don’t want to fight Jon Jones. I have no desire to fight anyone. But how about fight the dude that’s actually waiting to fight you, Tom Aspinall. It’s not about what may have happened back then. We wanna know as the consumer what’s gonna happen today. Am I afraid of this man? Absolutely not. But I’m not here to fight no more … there’s a guy that’s waiting. There’s a guy that’s up to his neck in frustrations, because he’s been waiting for so long. We wanna know when’s the fight with the guy that actually wants to fight you? It doesn’t need to be a hypothetical, you guys can actually answer the question as to who’s better between you and Tom.”